A 3D Printing Partner for Architects

A successful building project is a balance between careful planning and effective bidding. Unforeseen issues can quickly take projects that are on-time and on-budget and push them weeks behind schedule with upset budgets. 3D scanning and printing technologies can give firms a decisive edge over the competition. Halo Technologies is your on-demand partner for expeditious design and manufacturing of architectural models and construction fabrication.

Optimized Three Dimensional Design

The Challenge

Architectural drawings can do some amazing things, but nothing can replace the value of something you can see, walk around and touch. Scale models are traditionally created with cardboard or foam sheets and require skill, patience, and time to construct. They need to be assembled and adjusted delicately, and are difficult to move without causing damage. Assuming alterations are possible, maintaining exact scale is time consuming and requires meticulous work. Errors at this stage can have expensive consequences down the line.

Hand-drawn architectural illustrations look great and are nice to show clients. Clients can get a perspective of what a building might look like when added to a cityscape, or view cross sections that highlight interior design concepts. Although rendering software is now occasionally used, this task is often done by hand, relying on the skill and technique of the architect in a process that is slow.

Our Solutions

Halo Technologies 3D printing technology can take the best of both these worlds. Highly detailed models can be fabricated to digital perfection to whatever scale the architect requires. Where complex drawings and models become difficult to physically create manually, 3D printers can build with ease. For the cost of producing a scale model by hand, multiple iterations can be produced, with virtually no human error, at a lower price.

Digital structure analysis and quick design iterations

3D printing also allows any structural flaws to be quickly identified. Alterations or design changes can be pulled out of the plans, and the updated model can be printed on demand. Final models are constructed out of hard plastic that facilitate creation of detailed cross sections, which would be difficult or impossible to make by hand. This allows the architects and their client the ability to view and make alterations to even the most minute detail of the interior design, structural components, and mechanical systems layout.

From there, 3D printing opens the possibility for iterations and improvements to be fabricated inexpensively. Final models can include elements like full colors and landscaping to present visuals to the rest of the team. The structure can be produced in isolation, or can be added into the existing topography of the intended location — for example, a proposed building can be added into an existing city. Final touches like this can be the factor firms need to make a convincing and compelling case for clients to accept the firm’s bid and designs for a project.

In addition, Halo Technologies can print in different types of material — from plastics to clay and brick composites giving your model an even more realistic look and feel.

Solutions for Building code compliance

Models are robust enough to be moved around, should such they be required to be submitted for any governmental pre-construction approvals.

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Solutions for Architectural Conservation & Building restoration

For restorations and retrofit projects, Halo Technologies can fully render internal structures like halls, rooms, corridors, and stairways with 3D scanners. They can be integrated with external scans to create a comprehensive digital re-creation, down to the smallest detail. With 3D scanning and printing, architects and engineers can create scale replicas and cross sections to be used for detailed plans of any demolitions, renovations, and landscaping. Comprehensive plans upfront save implementation dollars down the line, and models can be created for each stage of the process.

Custom fabrications, better than before

3D scanning and printing can be used in fabrication, as well. Halo Technologies can scan and reproduce damaged or weathered vintage structures out of more robust material, yet appear to be part of the original construction. Restorations using 3D printing can range from hand-carved wooden mantelpieces, banister rails, window sills and floor trim, to ornate metalwork and masonry on a building’s exterior.

Many of these aesthetic pieces can be make lighter and stronger than the original. Solid pieces can be replaced with a honeycombed interior. The exterior can be color matched to the characteristics they had at the time of the original construction, but be composed of materials more resistant to environmental factors.

For architectural and construction businesses local to South Florida, these can be produced in the exact dimensions of the originals in Halo Technologies’ Palm Beach facility, ready for install.

Solutions for Civil Projects

The benefits of 3D printing and scanning extend to civil projects too. Projects like a new bridge require not just an understanding of the structure itself, but also how it will relate to its environment. Along with the ability to rapidly design and fabricate a given structure, Halo’s services also make it possible to fabricate the topography of the space it will exist in. This is an inexpensive way to vet designs and make corrections as needed.

In the case of retrofits, detailed models can be made of structures so that more efficient and effective plans can be made to complete the project. This can save both time and money during the project, while simultaneously reducing the impact on any surrounding population.

Solution for Nonprofit Organizations

For NGOs and nonprofits that are looking to raise funds for a new project, 3D printing can spell out cost savings. Designing a project and creating a model will be less expensive, but beyond that, organizations will benefit from having a physical model that can be reused and easily transported without being damaged. Having a detailed scale model makes for a stronger presentation to investors and will increase the likelihood of charitable donations. Using Halo’s services, organizations can design and build beautiful models that keep to scale and are in full color. This helps keep operating costs to a minimum, while increasingly being able to serve their constituents.

For further personalization, multiple inexpensive models can be made– one for each prospective investor or patron. Models can be customized and sent to each unique recipient, thus improving the fundraising process for recipients, while keeping costs for the funding organization low.

Solutions for Fabrications & Customizations

3D printing offers new opportunities that previous technologies did not. Because of the ability to rapidly design and prototype at a low cost, architects can experiment with bolder designs — and see them physically modeled out. 3D printing lends itself to elaborate fabrications that would be difficult or cumbersome to produce any other way. The potential for new contributions to interior design are limited only to the imagination of the designer.

3D printing allows the lines of traditional architectural processes to be blurred. With a growing catalog of materials to work with, and an ability to produce high strength internal structures hidden from view, 3D printing allows architects and engineers to simplify complicated tasks, while still meeting all the same building requirements.

Architectural and engineering firms looking to capitalize on the benefits of 3D printing to maximize successful bidding cycles should contact us here for a one on one consultation with the design team. Firms in the Palm Beach area have the convenience of custom prints on demand.